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Abstract

Molluscivorous gastropods became infected with bothridio-plerocercoids of the elasmobranch cestode, Rhinebothrium sp. (Cake, 1976) (Tetraphyllidea; Phyllobothriidae) after consuming infected pelecypods under experimental conditions. Banded tulips, Fasciolaria liliumhunteria (Perry)(Gastropoda; Fasciolariidae) exhibited a significant increase in infection intensity after consuming Rhinebothrium-infected viscera from ponderous arks, Noetia ponderosa(Say)(Bivalvia; Arcidae). The final experimental infection intensity was 144 times greater than the baseline intensity (43.2 vs. 0.3 plerocercoids/tulip) and 24 times greater than the final controlintensity (43.2 vs. 1.8/tulip). The experimental transmission rate was 20.6% of the probable rate based on a mean intensity of 33±6.9 plerocercoids/baseline ark. Marine pelecypods and gastropods appear to serve as intermediate and/or paratenic hosts in the life cycle of Rhinebothrium sp.